October 14, 2008

Since 2000,
the organization has profited from bank and wire fraud, receipt of
stolen property and the purchasing and selling of contraband
cigarettes, U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway said.

The
group allegedly used couriers who traveled from the United States to
the Palestinian territories carrying cash, jewelry, cashiers checks,
endorsed and unendorsed personal and business account checks, Hanaway
said.

Hanaway said the Hamed organization, led by Bassam
Hisham Hamed, 33, of Florissant, Mo., owned and operated convenience
stores that were used to receive and sell stolen goods, including
infant formula, computers, Global Positioning System devices and
cigarettes.

The enterprise allegedly bought the stolen
property at rates significantly below fair market retail value and
sells the items through the convenience stores at a large profit.

Wow. Sending GPS Systems to the Palestinian Territory seems to be more than just low level mob activity. And since the Palestinian Authority (now run by Hamas)undoubtedly gets a cut of any money or "stuff" flowing into their areas, I have a feeling this just isn't some guy sending extra cash back to his mother.